Takeo Spikes is in his 14th NFL season, Donald Butler his first, really. Asked what he wishes he’d known when he was Butler’s age, what single-most important bit of wisdom he’s imparted to the young player who missed his entire rookie season with an injury, Spikes didn’t have to think about it.

“How much of a grind it is and how to prepare,” said Spikes. “Studying, not just watching film.”

Clear across the country, six-year veteran Maurice Jones-Drew was applying what must be a veteran’s credo. He hadn’t merely watched film of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ next opponent, but he’d looked into the back-story, trying to learn as much as he could about a Chargers defensive player who surely was a perfect stranger to Jones-Drew until this week.

“Right now Donald Butler’s playing at a high level,” said Jones-Drew, the sixth-year running back who is pretty much the totality of the Jags offense. “Last year he was hurt, right? And so for him to come in and play like he’s playing now, to get hurt as a rookie, then come back and be ready to roll is big. I mean, he’s flying around.”

Conversely, Jones-Drew won’t have to be wearing a name tag the first time he runs into Butler on Monday night at EverBank Field, given the fact Jones-Drew already has recorded his third straight 1,000-yard rushing season and leads the AFC with 1,040 yards. That he also leads the NFL in carries, 230 in 11 games, would suggest that he and the Chargers inside linebackers will be running into each other a lot.

Between games, Butler and Spikes run against each other. After practice the other day, they engaged in a two-man, side-by-side drill that looked like the shuttle race kids run in school. “Suicides,” they’re called.

“Just something we like to do,” said Butler. “It helps us with our burst.”

“Burst” is a word that could be used to describe what Butler’s done within the Chargers defense. The third-round pick of 2010 was sidelined his entire rookie year by an Achilles' torn in training camp, but now is second on the team with 70 tackles, just six fewer than Spikes. Butler also had what might be the most memorable good play of the season by the Chargers defense, the recovered fumble he returned 37 yards for the touchdown that spotted San Diego to an early lead against the New York Jets on Oct. 23.

Of course, the play stands out because for the most part, the last two months have been highly forgettable. Aside from the problems the Chargers have been having stopping opponents on crucial (usually late) drives, there are implications beyond this season, regardless of who’s the general manager or head coach or defensive coordinator after 2011.

Examine just the linebacking crew, which until last week was missing veteran Shaun Phillips on the outside. Just as the Chargers had to do without Butler all of last season, they’re missing two highly drafted young linebackers again this season, both on IR. Larry English, the team’s first-round pick of 2009, has played less than half the Chargers games over this season and last. Jonas Mouton, the second-round pick last April, didn't play in a regular season game before going on IR on Sept. 22.